Open Heaven For Today 2024 Thursday Daily Devotional By Pastor E. A. Adeboye – Is Rapture Real?
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TOPIC: Is Rapture Real?
MEMORISE: For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark. Matthew 24:38
READ: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17(KJV)
13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Acts 24-26
Open Heaven For Today 2023 MESSAGE
As we see in today’s Bible reading, the rapture is the sudden taking away of the dead in Christ along with believers who are alive to meet with the Lord Jesus Christ and spend eternity with Him.
Many people, however, feel that the rapture is not real because they have heard of it for so long and it hasn’t happened yet.
Whatever anyone thinks about the reality of the rapture does not matter. It is in your best interest to study and believe only what the word of God says about it.
The Bible says that the day will come like a thief in the night and you must be prepared if you do not want to be left behind (1 Thessalonians 5:1-8).
A key characteristic of the major prophecies in the Bible is that they sounded unbelievable when they were spoken. When Isaiah prophesied that a virgin would give birth in Isaiah 7:14, it seemed very unreasonable.
At that time, most people must have watched to see if a virgin would really give birth. It wasn’t until centuries later that Mary gave birth to Jesus Christ.
Whether the people believed Isaiah’s prophecy or not, God’s word came to pass. In the Bible, there were numerous prophecies that seemed impossible but have come to pass.
If the Bible has been so accurate, it is wise to believe that it is absolutely right about the rapture.
When Noah announced to everyone that a flood was coming to destroy the whole earth, they laughed at him. He started building the ark, and they laughed even more.
Years passed, and no flood came. Just before he went into the ark with his family, the people were still drinking and rejoicing like every other day, but a few days after, they had all drowned. Today, many people are living recklessly, ignoring the reality of the rapture.
However, the Bible says in 1 Corinthians 15:52 that the rapture will happen suddenly. Only those who are prepared for it will be saved while the rest will be left on the earth to suffer.
One thing I know for sure is that the day the rapture happens, many people will be caught by surprise.
There will be a lot of regrets from people who heard about the rapture, but who lived their lives without bothering to prepare for it by giving their lives to Jesus Christ and living holy.
Unfortunately for them, it will be too late because the rapture will only happen once. Beloved, are you ready for the rapture?
Key Point
The rapture will surely happen. Be wise and be prepared.
HYMN 21: Standing On The Promises Of Christ My King
1. Standing on the promises of Christ, my King,
Through eternal ages let his praises ring;
Glory in the highest, I will shout and sing,
Standing on the promises of God.
Refrain:
Standing, standing,
Standing on the promises of God, my Savior;
Standing, standing,
I’m standing on the promises of God.
2. Standing on the promises that cannot fail.
When the howling storms of doubt and fear assail,
By the living Word of God I shall prevail,
Standing on the promises of God. [Refrain]
3. Standing on the promises of Christ, the Lord,
Bound to him eternally by love’s strong cord,
Overcoming daily with the Spirit’s sword,
Standing on the promises of God. [Refrain]
4. Standing on the promises I cannot fall,
List’ning ev’ry moment to the Spirit’s call,
Resting in my Savior as my all in all,
Standing on the promises of God. [Refrain]
Open Heaven For Today 2024 Wednesday Daily Devotional By Pastor E. A. Adeboye – You Can Be Full Of Joy
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TOPIC: You Can Be Full Of Joy
MEMORISE: Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore. Psalm 16:11
READ: Jeremiah 29:11-12 (KJV)
11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.
12 Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you.
Open Heaven For Today 2023 MESSAGE
Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full. John 16:24
Jesus Christ said in the above passage that it is possible for you to be full of joy. In other words, He was saying that it is possible for you to have absolutely no sorrow.
There are many people who look good on the outside but are dying on the inside. A lot of people have sorrows that they can’t share and problems that they hide beneath their appearance.
However, God can take away sorrows completely and heal the broken-hearted (Psalm 147:3). If you are currently experiencing sorrows or problems that you cannot share, you will be healed today, in the name of Jesus Christ.
Many years ago, one of my daughters came to me and asked me to pray for her. I asked her what she wanted me to pray about, but she said that I didn’t need to know and that when the prayer is answered, she would come back and share the testimony with me.
I prayed for her, and to the glory of God, some days later, she came back to share her testimony with me.
She was well over 20 years old, but she was still bedwetting. She said that she never travelled with her friends on trips where they had to spend the night together, but that with just a simple prayer, the problem was over.
In the name of the Lord Jesus who made it possible for you to be reading this teaching now, if there are any secret sorrows in your life, they will disappear today.
Jesus Christ said in John 16:24 that the way to get all your sorrows turned to so much joy that you will be filled with it, is to ask Him.
It may seem like a simple instruction, but it is a very powerful one. Rather than cry or worry, just pray. Matthew 6:27 says that no matter how worried you are, you cannot add an inch to your height.
Beloved, stop worrying. Rather than spending time to worry, use that time to pray.
Philippians 4:6 says:
Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
When disturbing thoughts wake you up at night, get up and pray. As you pray and sing praises to God, the sorrows will be lifted from your heart and will be replaced with joy. I pray that henceforth, your life will be filled with joy, in Jesus name.
Prayer Point
Father, may I never experience sorrow again, in Jesus’ name.
HYMN 29: When Peace Like A River Attendeth My Way
1 When peace like a river attendeth my way,
when sorrows like sea billows roll;
whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say,
“It is well, it is well with my soul.”
Refrain (may be sung after final stanza only):
It is well with my soul;
it is well, it is well with my soul.
2 Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
let this blest assurance control:
that Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
and has shed his own blood for my soul. Refrain
3 My sin oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!
my sin, not in part, but the whole,
is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more;
praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul! Refrain
4 O Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,
the clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
the trump shall resound and the Lord shall descend;
even so, it is well with my soul. Refrain
Open Heaven For Today 2024 Tuesday Daily Devotional By Pastor E. A. Adeboye – Drawing Miracles
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TOPIC: Drawing Miracles
MEMORISE: Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth. Mark 9:23
READ: Mark 5:21-34 (KJV)
21 And when Jesus was passed over again by ship unto the other side, much people gathered unto him: and he was nigh unto the sea.
22 And, behold, there cometh one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name; and when he saw him, he fell at his feet,
23 And besought him greatly, saying, My little daughter lieth at the point of death: I pray thee, come and lay thy hands on her, that she may be healed; and she shall live.
24 And Jesus went with him; and much people followed him, and thronged him.
25 And a certain woman, which had an issue of blood twelve years,
26 And had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse,
27 When she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched his garment.
28 For she said, If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole.
29 And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague.
30 And Jesus, immediately knowing in himself that virtue had gone out of him, turned him about in the press, and said, Who touched my clothes?
31 And his disciples said unto him, Thou seest the multitude thronging thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me?
32 And he looked round about to see her that had done this thing.
33 But the woman fearing and trembling, knowing what was done in her, came and fell down before him, and told him all the truth.
34 And he said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Acts 20-21
Open Heaven For Today 2023 MESSAGE
Every now and then in the Bible, you read about people who got ‘unplanned’ miracles.
For example, in the Gospels, Jesus would be going somewhere, not planning to pray for anyone along the way, but somehow, someone would get a miracle from Him. One of such people is the woman with the issue of blood in our Bible reading today. Jesus was on His way to raise Jairus’ daughter from the dead when she met him.
She pushed through the crowd that followed Him until she was able to touch His garment and get her miracle. In doing so, all the sufferings in the last 12 years of her life vanished. If she had not done what she did, she might have died a sick and wretched woman.
Do you know that you can get a miracle even when a minister of God is not praying for you? You can be at a programme, and while a ministration is going on, if you say to yourself just like the woman with the issue of blood,
“If I can just touch the hem of His garment, I will receive my miracle,”
God will do it.
One of our drummers in RCCG had been waiting on God for the fruit of the womb. One day, while the Holy Ghost Service was going on, he said in his heart,
“If the General Overseer can just look at me, I will have my child.”
I didn’t know what was going on, I just looked his way, and he was very excited. Nine months later, his baby came.
There was also a woman many years ago who had heard of the great things God was doing through us. She decided to come for one of our programmes and said in her heart,
“If I can just see the man of God, I will receive my healing.”
When I came up, she asked those around her to confirm that the fellow on the altar was me. When they confirmed it, she started rejoicing, and she got her miracle.
If you have faith, you can get your miracle at any time. Even if a minister of God does not mention your case or lay hands on you during a ministration, you can get a miracle from God through him. You don’t have to wait for a minister of God to pray for you. You can get a miracle through him or her with your faith.
Reflection
Do you have the kind of faith that draws miracles from God?
HYMN 25: The Great Physician Now Is Near
1 The great Physician now is near,
The sympathizing Jesus;
He speaks the drooping heart to cheer,
Oh, hear the voice of Jesus.
Refrain:
Sweetest note in seraph song,
Sweetest name on mortal tongue;
Sweetest carol ever sung,
Jesus, blessed Jesus.
2 Your many sins are all forgiv’n,
Oh, hear the voice of Jesus;
Go on your way in peace to heav’n,
And wear a crown with Jesus.
[Refrain]
3 All glory to the dying Lamb!
I now believe in Jesus;
I love the blessed Savior’s name,
I love the name of Jesus.
[Refrain]
4 His name dispels my guilt and fear,
No other name but Jesus;
Oh, how my soul delights to hear
The charming name of Jesus.
[Refrain]
Open Heaven For Today 2024 Sunday Daily Devotional By Pastor E. A. Adeboye – Friendship With God
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TOPIC: Friendship With God
MEMORISE: Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. John 15:14
READ: John 15:13-15 (KJV)
13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
14 Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.
15 Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.
Open Heaven For Today 2023 MESSAGE
God has many children, but as every parent knows, there is always that one child that is a favourite.
Even though they do not like to admit it, their relationship with that child goes beyond regular parenting; it often extends into friendship.
Likewise, God doesn’t just want you to be His child, He wants you to be so close to Him that He can consider you His friend.
Jesus loves His friends so dearly that He said that He was willing to lay down His life for them (John 15:13).
Do you have a friend who can inject himself with a disease so that you will not be infected with it? This can be likened to what Jesus did in Matthew 8:17.
Can any of your friends take a bullet for you? Jesus did more than this when He was beaten by Roman soldiers and hung on a cross. This means that Jesus is the best friend that anyone can ever have.
People often tell tales of friends that they used to have. While it is common for people to betray friendships because of selfish interests or terminate them because of disagreements, the friendship of Jesus Christ lasts forever.
Whether you are going through a storm (Matthew 14:24-25), or you are caught in a fire (Daniel 3:22-25), He will never leave your side.
Even when He knows that you can betray His friendship, He will remain your friend indeed (Luke 22:31 32). The Bible says in John 13:1 that He loves until the end.
What does it take to become a friend of God? Our memory verse for today tells us that we can become His friend by obeying His commandments.
This goes beyond staying away from sin; it means that when He says,
“Don’t eat, I want you to fast today,”
you should do it.
When you are tired, and all you want to do is sleep, if He says,
“Let us discuss before you sleep,”
you should push the sleep aside and pray.
When He says,
“Give me your car,”
you should do it. Abraham was called a friend of God in 2 Chronicles 20:7 because, when God asked him to sacrifice his son in Genesis 22:1-3, he was ready to do it.
Beloved, when God instructs you to do anything, you should make the necessary sacrifices and obey Him promptly.
Nothing in this world should be too big for you to sacrifice to God. This is the only way to become His friend. Are you ready to become God’s friend?
Key Point
Obeying God’s commandments is the key to becoming His friend.
HYMN 27: What A Friend We Have In Jesus
1 What a friend we have in Jesus,
all our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry
everything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit,
O what needless pain we bear,
all because we do not carry
everything to God in prayer!
2 Have we trials and temptations?
Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged;
take it to the Lord in prayer!
Can we find a friend so faithful
who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness;
take it to the Lord in prayer!
3 Are we weak and heavy laden,
cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Savior, still our refuge–
take it to the Lord in prayer!
Do your friends despise, forsake you?
Take it to the Lord in prayer!
In his arms he’ll take and shield you;
you will find a solace there.
Open Heaven For Today 2024 Saturday Daily Devotional By Pastor E. A. Adeboye – The Bible Gender, And Sexuality 3
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TOPIC: The Bible Gender, And Sexuality 3
MEMORISE: Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another. Ephesians 4:25
READ: Romans 1:20-32 (KJV)
20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.
24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:
25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.
26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:
27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.
28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;
29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,
30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,
31 Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:
32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Acts 14-15
Open Heaven For Today 2023 MESSAGE
In conclusion of the teaching I started two days ago on gender and sexuality, I will like to share an experience I had with you.
Some years ago, I was in one of the Western nations to preach, and a journalist interviewed me about my views on same-sex marriage.
I told the fellow interviewing me that God made men and women to reproduce after their kind.
Then I asked,
“Is it possible for people of the same gender to produce offspring?”
I concluded by telling the interviewer that if everyone was getting married to someone of the same sex, the world will come to an end in this generation.
As a child of God, whenever you have the opportunity to speak about homosexuality, don’t beat around the bush.
The reason evil thrives is that good people are too afraid to say the truth. Don’t keep quiet when people say that they are sexually attracted to people of the same gender as them.
Don’t judge or condemn them, rather, tell them the truth with love. Condemning them will only make them put up a fight, and our God is not a God of condemnation, but of love.
Speak to them in love, but still show them from the Scriptures that what they are feeling is not from God because He clearly speaks against it.
Tell them that you are willing to pray with them and help them overcome that feeling.
Today’s Bible reading tells us what happens to people when they are left to their reprobate minds; such people cannot end well unless they repent.
Stand firm against homosexuality and do everything you can to show people that are sexually attracted to individuals of the same sex the right way to live from the Scriptures.
Lot stood firm against homosexuality in Genesis 19:1-7, even when he was under severe pressure. He did not allow the men of Sodom to come into his house to have sexual relations with the angels that he invited in, even though they pressed on him greatly and were going to break into his home.
Beloved, I know that in some countries, the government has made it illegal to speak the truth as regards homosexuality.
However, we have a greater government in Christ, and we must represent Him everywhere we go.
Do not stand by and do nothing while people are on their way to destruction; you have a responsibility to save as many as you can (Jude 1:17-23).
Key Point
Speak the truth in God’s word about homosexuality whenever you have the opportunity.
HYMN 20: Standup! Standup! For Jesus
1 Stand up, stand up for Jesus
ye soldiers of the cross;
lift high his royal banner,
it must not suffer loss.
From vict’ry unto vict’ry
his army he shall lead
till ev’ry foe is vanquished
and Christ is Lord indeed.
2 Stand up, stand up for Jesus,
the trumpet call obey;
forth to the mighty conflict
in this his glorious day.
Ye that are men now serve him
against unnumbered foes;
let courage rise with danger
and strength to strength oppose.
3 Stand up, stand up for Jesus,
stand in his strength alone;
the arm of flesh will fail you,
ye dare not trust your own.
Put on the gospel armor,
each piece put on with prayer;
where duty calls or danger,
be never wanting there.
4 Stand up, stand up for Jesus,
the strife will not be long;
this day the noise of battle,
the next, the victor’s song.
To him that overcometh
a crown of life shall be;
he with the King of glory
shall reign eternally.
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